'Twas+the+Night+Before+Winter+Break

Heather Manchester
 * “For Mrs. Andrews, with Apologies to Clement Moore” **

‘Twas the night before winter break And all through the room Desks had been Clorox-wiped, Corners swept with a broom

Novel studies were done And graded with care While colorful pyramids Danced in the air

The children were leaving With backpacks hung low While visions of free time Gave their faces a glow

Their two teachers watched From the portable’s door Then sat for a moment Their e-mail to explore

When out on the blacktop There arose such a clatter Mrs. A sprang from her desktop To see what was the matter

Away to the window Pulled like water in a drain She unlocked the flip latch And slid open the pane.

The sun on the breast Of the newly-paved space Gave the luster of midday, As indeed was the case

When what to her wondering Eyes should arrive But a shiny red Mazda All ready to drive

With a little old driver-- Maybe now she should sit-- She could almost believe He looked just like Amrit!

More rapid than Ceci His fellows, they came He whistled, and cajoled, And called them by name.

“Now Mehar! Now Leena! Now Katie and Kelly! On Daphne! On Jordan! On, Ryan and Ashley!

To the top of the ramp! To the top of P4! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away—soar!”

As Jessica and Mackenzie Before a soccer ball fly And Amy, over obstacles, Mounts to the sky

So up to the rooftop His classmates they flew With a car full of binders And Kurt and Jason, too.

And then, in a twinkling, She heard on the roofs, Charles, Aniket, and Kayla, Doing P.E. dance moves.

As she switched on her iPod And was turning around There were Tara and Brianna Also getting down.

They were dressed all in fur Along with Matthew and Sean, Wesley had a fake beard And moustache glued on

Bundles of gifts they had Slung on their backs With two quick, cheerful elves Looking like Claire and Alex.

Her eyes, how they twinkled, Her cell phone, how it chimed As her husband reminded her To look at the time

Her droll little mouth Was drawn up like a bow As another elf appeared, This one, Nelson Ho.

The end of a pen She held tight in her hand, a Pile of tests ready-- Oh, here comes Amanda.

Michelle’s bright face shone While students’ water, bottled, Shook with the footsteps As down they all toddled

Jodi and Soomin gasped When seeing the elves With the teachers, they chortled, They couldn’t help themselves

A wink of Iris’ eye And a twist of Anthony’s ear Soon gave them to know It was the end of the year

Jamie spoke not a word But went straight to her work And opening the large bags Turned with a jerk

To tell Mrs. Andrews From the whole group combined Their gifts were not things You could order on-line

Instead, gifts of gratitude And appreciation For time, talent, hard work-- A valuable combination

Mrs. A heard them exclaim As they ran out the door “Happy Holidays from all Of the folks in P4!”